Note: Any prior rating results are based on the final nationals. Since the level of DVR penetration has increased from 20 percent at this same point last year to approximately 28 percent at present, the overall results may be negatively impacted.
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-Friday’s Winners (excluding repeats): (Keep in mind that expectations are lower on Friday) Ghost Whisperer (CBS), Medium (CBS)
-Aging Up: Numbers (CBS)
-Friday’s Losers: Brothers (Fox), ‘Til Death (Fox), Smallville (CW), Dollhouse (Fox), The Jay Leno Show (NBC)
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-Note: Any reported ratings from an earlier date are based on the final nationals.
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-Ratings Breakdown: CBS led the diluted Friday troops, with a first-place finish in every half-hour care of its line-up of Ghost Whisperer (Viewers: 8.60 million; A18-49: 2.1 rating/7 share), Medium (Viewers: 8.25 million; A18-49: 1.9/ 6) and Numbers (Viewers: 7.13 million; A18-49: 1.6/ 5). Medium, no doubt, is the perfect fit out of Ghost Whisperer. But veteran Numbers has sprung a leak among adults 18-49, with erosion from one year earlier (Viewers: 8.01 million; A18-49: 2.2/ 7 on Oct. 10, 2008) of 880,000 viewers and 27 percent in the demo. Ghost Whisperer is also down significantly, with a loss of 1.29 million viewers (9.69 to 8.60 million) and 22 percent among adults 18-49 (2.7/10 to 2.1/ 7).
Second-place NBC opened the evening with granddaddy Law & Order (Viewers: #2, 7.23 million; A18-49: #2, #2, 1.5/ 6), which performed admirably opposite aforementioned Ghost Whisperer, followed by Dateline (Viewers: #2, 7.02 million; A18-49: #2, 1.5/ 5) and ongoing flop The Jay Leno Show (Viewers: #3, 5.33 million; A18-49: #3, 1.3/ 4). As reported earlier in the week, planned 9 p.m. NBC returnee Southland has been unceremoniously canceled and Dateline will remain in the time period. The six unaired episodes of Southland are currently being pitched to cable. TNT should seriously consider it.
Next up was ABC care of a repeat of FlashForward (Viewers: #3, 3.11 million; A18-49: #3t, 0.8/ 3), which this Lost fan just cannot get into, repeats of sitcoms Modern Family (Viewers: #3, 2.95 million; A18-49: #4, 0.9/ 3) and must see The Middle (Viewers: #3, 2.76 million; A18-49: #4, 0.9/ 3) and veteran 20/20 (Viewers: #2, 6.07 million; A18-49: #2, 1.5/ 5). 20/20 featured an interview with a Mr. TV favorite, Valerie Bertinelli. Coming up next Friday on ABC: the season premiere of Ugly Betty, which will air back-to-back with two episodes.
Fourth in both categories was Fox’s failing combination of Brothers (Viewers: #4, 2.35 million; A18-49: #3t, 0.8/ 3), unnecessary returnee ‘Til Death (Viewers: #4, 2.36 million; A18-49: #4, 0.8/ 3) and sophomore fizzle Dollhouse (Viewers: #4, 2.25 million; A18-49: #3, 1.0/ 3). And last was The CW’s relocated Smallville (Viewers: #5, 2.30 million; A18-49: #3, 1.0/ 3) and a repeat of America’s Next Top Model (Viewers: #5, 1.16 million; A18-49: #5, 0.5/ 2), which has not benefited by featuring shorter wannabe models only. Although Smallville built from year-ago occupants Everybody Hates Chris (Viewers: 1.70 million; A18-49: 0.7/ 2) and The Game (Viewers: 1.80 million; A18-49: 0.8/ 3) on Oct. 10, 2008 by an average of 550,000 viewers and 33 percent among adults 18-49, take a look at the year-to-year erosion:
I think it is safe to assume this is the final season of Smallville. As for The Game, there is ongoing talk of cable net BET producing new episodes. Considering there are already three seasons in the can, that is a good idea.
Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat)
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Marc Berman,
Let this not only be the last year for "Smallville" but for "America's Next Top Model", "One Tree Hill", and "Supernatural" too!
CW needs to find their own brand and let go of the WB/UPN. They need to launch a variety of different kinds of shows. They need something new. Nobody is watching a network that is full of shows that are a half decade old or older and the rest of the shows that are about spoiled rich brats. Hello! How many times can we all say it before they will listen???
TNT should definately consider Southland, since the episodes are ready to go and it would fit TNT's brand very well. It could be a cross between Saving Grace/Dark Blue. Although, looking at Dateline's demos, perhaps NBC should have hung on to it. Too late now.
quote:
Originally posted by Marc Berman: As reported earlier in the week, planned 9 p.m. NBC returnee Southland has been unceremoniously canceled and Dateline will remain in the time period. The six unaired episodes of Southland are currently being pitched to cable. TNT should seriously consider it.
Originally posted by William: Let this not only be the last year for "Smallville" but for "America's Next Top Model", "One Tree Hill", and "Supernatural" too!
CW needs to find their own brand and let go of the WB/UPN. They need to launch a variety of different kinds of shows. They need something new. Nobody is watching a network that is full of shows that are a half decade old or older and the rest of the shows that are about spoiled rich brats. Hello! How many times can we all say it before they will listen???
Don't you think that they should find their new "brand shows" first and then let go of established players? Look at what happened to their Fridays after they got rid of wrestling because it "didn't fit their brand." They have enough open places to fill already - the season barely began and they already air repeats in two time slots - without canceling four shows that actually delivery some viewers.
Originally posted by William: Let this not only be the last year for "Smallville" but for "America's Next Top Model", "One Tree Hill", and "Supernatural" too!
Actually - it wouldn't surprise me if Smallville got another season, based on the fact that it's now doing pretty much as well as their other "hit" shows; between 2-3 million viewers seem to be the rage on the CW these days! Unless they decide to let go of Friday night entirely, because I can't imagine them finding another show to air there...
Why do I get the feeling that Fox will soon try to dump Fringe on Fridays? Either to replace the comedies or Dollhouse...
Originally posted by William: Let this not only be the last year for "Smallville" but for "America's Next Top Model", "One Tree Hill", and "Supernatural" too!
CW needs to find their own brand and let go of the WB/UPN. They need to launch a variety of different kinds of shows. They need something new. Nobody is watching a network that is full of shows that are a half decade old or older and the rest of the shows that are about spoiled rich brats. Hello! How many times can we all say it before they will listen???
Don't you think that they should find their new "brand shows" first and then let go of established players? Look at what happened to their Fridays after they got rid of wrestling because it "didn't fit their brand." They have enough open places to fill already - the season barely began and they already air repeats in two time slots - without canceling four shows that actually delivery some viewers.
They could midseason one of the aging shows, but I think they need to start next season out with several new shows. There is not enough room on their measley 10 hour a week schedule to find any new content if the aging material is filling it up. They need to let go, branch out creatively, and brand!
Originally posted by William: Let this not only be the last year for "Smallville" but for "America's Next Top Model", "One Tree Hill", and "Supernatural" too!
CW needs to find their own brand and let go of the WB/UPN. They need to launch a variety of different kinds of shows. They need something new. Nobody is watching a network that is full of shows that are a half decade old or older and the rest of the shows that are about spoiled rich brats. Hello! How many times can we all say it before they will listen???
They no longer have UPN shows. And if they let go of the WB shows they'd probably fail at any show that they put on.
Slightly addicted to House and How I Met Your Mother.
Originally posted by William: Let this not only be the last year for "Smallville" but for "America's Next Top Model", "One Tree Hill", and "Supernatural" too!
CW needs to find their own brand and let go of the WB/UPN. They need to launch a variety of different kinds of shows. They need something new. Nobody is watching a network that is full of shows that are a half decade old or older and the rest of the shows that are about spoiled rich brats. Hello! How many times can we all say it before they will listen???
They no longer have UPN shows. And if they let go of the WB shows they'd probably fail at any show that they put on.
Where did they get "America's Next Top Model" from then?
I'm still not sure why ABC is putting UB on Fridays. It's highly unlikely that it will break a mid 1 demo with how ABC Fridays have been tracking. ABC could use it on Tuesdays or Wednesdays and throw Wife Swap/Supernanny on Fridays, which would do just as well as Ugly Betty at a fraction of the production cost.
quote:
Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Coming up next Friday on ABC: the season premiere of Ugly Betty, which will air back-to-back with two episodes.
Depending on 1/2 hour breakdowns, Flash Forward should be #5 or #4 in viewers and either #5 or #4 in demo. There should also be a tie between Til Death & Flash Forward in the demo (#4).
I don't have the 1/2 hour breakdowns, but I'd imagine that Brothers is #3 in viewers unless there was a fairly large drop @ the half for FlashForward.
Yeah, I'm still scratching my head over that one! Really?!
quote:
Originally posted by WlcmZapataTexas: TNT should definately consider Southland, since the episodes are ready to go and it would fit TNT's brand very well. It could be a cross between Saving Grace/Dark Blue. Although, looking at Dateline's demos, perhaps NBC should have hung on to it. Too late now.
quote:
Originally posted by Marc Berman: As reported earlier in the week, planned 9 p.m. NBC returnee Southland has been unceremoniously canceled and Dateline will remain in the time period. The six unaired episodes of Southland are currently being pitched to cable. TNT should seriously consider it.
Law & Order (Viewers: #2, 7.23 million; A18-49: #2, #2, 1.5/ 6)
Nice to see Law and Order stay stable in viewership, but build 0.3 demo points from last week. If NBC can stay patient all season, I'm guessing Law and Order could build even more. It already appears that it may have put a dent in Ghost Whisperer.
